Question

Summarize the major theories of emotion.

Identify which theory you think is the most valid.

What makes this theory more valid to you than the others?

Identify which theory of emotion you think is the least valid.

What makes this theory less valid to you than the others?

Your response must be at least 300 words.

Answer 1

Psychologist from the beginning of the field itself keenly interested in the topic 'emotion'. How this happen is a major concern of many psychologist that time.As a result a number of theories developed on emotion pointing out the process of emotion .

One of the initial theory explained based on Darwin's evolutionary theory says that emotions help individual to survive and reproduce,emotions have survival value where the emotion of love helps in seeking mates and reproduction.

The James -Lange theory of emotion says that emotional reaction occurs as a result of physiological reactions to events.for example on encountering a traumatic situation,our body starts releasing stress hormones,thus increases the physiological functions like increasing heartbeat,change in body temperature etc and it is through this physiological reaction we realize that we are frightened or emotionally aroused.

The Cannon-Bard theory of emotion says that we feel the emotional arousal as well as physiological arousal simultaneously.Cannon opposed the idea that physiological reaction is preceded by emotional arousal because both are experiencing without any time delay.

Schachter-Singer Theory is a cognitive theory of emotion,while all the above theories addresses the physiological aspects in detail.The theory suggests that the physiological reaction occurs first and later the physiological reaction is cognitively interpreted by our brain and result in emotional experience.

Cognitive appraisal theory suggests that thinking is occuring first just after the presentation of stimulus and then followed by physiological changes..Proposed by Richard Lazarus.

Facial feedback theory of emotion suggests that facial feedback plays an important role in experiencing emotion,when someone is forced to smile there is a positive physiological change happening in our body.

All these theories explains emotions in different level,there are plenty of evidences supporting the Cognitive appraisal theory ,the theory is more concerned with our cognitive aspects and better explains the emotion in a more consistent way.All the other theories have little evidences present till the date .